To kick off How-To Month, we thought we'd start by singling out some of the bloggers who have inspired us with their fearless approach to home improvement projects. The list ranges from expert sewers to hackers to all-around Renaissance people who are equally comfortable wielding a hammer or a spatula.

The Purl Bee: If you love fabric, you'll love this blog. Written by the ladies at Soho fabric shop Purl, the blog includes beautifully photographed images of their wares and meticulously detailed instructions for patchwork, crochet and embroidery projects.

not martha: Megan Reardon describes herself as someone "making attempts at cooking, knitting and homemaking, and keeping track of lessons learned the hard way." Written in a funny, approachable voice, her blog has a great archive of how-to projects.

Ikea Hacker: Another big winner in the 2009 Homies, Ikea Hacker earned the "best home tech" award. It's a great read if you're looking for ways to customize your Billy bookcase or Lack shelf.

Dollar Store Crafts: In 2008, Heather Mann founded this site, which features projects that can be made with materials from your local Dollar Store. Categories divide the projects into $1, $5, and $10 or more.

Design*Sponge: The DIY section of Grace Bonney's popular blog is full of simple, good-looking projects by d*s contributors and readers.